Khalid Mahmood was really one of the few top class forwards that Pakistan has fielded on the right wing. Having made his debut in 1963 at Lyon's pre-olympic international tournament, he remained an important member of the team throughout his career. He was an integral part of the team that scored the glorious grand slam, the first of its kind, by regaining the Olympic and Asiad titles, in 1968 and 1970 respectively, and following it up with triumph in the inaugural '71 World Cup. He infact captained the side in the above-mentioned Asiad and World Cup victories.
He thus retired amid all the glory associated with the World Cup win; by then he already had all the titles worth winning in his bag anyway. With Pakistan's frontline players banned following the Munich fracas, Khalid was called back to captain the side for the '73 World Cup. And he led this second string into the semis, where it went down against India but not without a valiant fight.

Technically solid, Khalid was of a peculiar kind as far as right wingers go, for he always ran with the ball, and never sprinted down the flank without it. He had tremendous control, especially in the early days, and a very effective cross which was more measured than powerful.
As a person, Khalid was reticent but fiercely independent, of viduality of character in all his its intensity into play on the field too. That was why he annoyed most umpires, contantly talking to them and irritating them. As manager Khalid almost matched his achievements as a player, but not quite. The secone version of the Champions Trophy, early in 1980, was his first assignment as manager in a top flight event, and Pakistan ended up on the winners rostrum. Then for some inexplicable reason he was removed from the job, only to come back in 1982, and handled the side in that memorable New Delhi Asiad Victory. More often than not, the last impressions are not the correct ones. And it would be grossly inappropriate to judge Khalid on these failures, for the circumstances surrounding the events were far from the ideal. The lasting image that one would like to retain is of a resplendent Khalid receo\iving the World Cup trophy in the Barcelona. That is how a champion like Khalid should be remembered.